Chapter 10

Celine trusted her instincts more than anything.

For the past few months, events had been happening in Gealwu close to the city of Tetrad, too many things, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that they were all somehow connected.

The smuggling.

Rising tensions and lawlessness on the streets.

Abigail’s exile.

Unless Moons were involved or wars might start, Celine normally didn’t involve herself too much in the troubles of Gealwu.

She couldn’t allow that.

No, she wouldn’t allow it.

That was part of the reason Celine had decided that they should all take a break and go off separately. She had decided to dig deeper into the truth.

She made sure Daya and Estelle were busy, then she went to Ordon herself, hiding herself with her usual magics.

She walked the streets and listened intensely to all she heard.

“…new taxation policies might-”

“They say it’ll help you study better and-!”

“…if she keeps acting like this, I don’t know what I’m going-”

“My fiancé keeps demanding we spend more time together. God, conversations with her friends are-”

“Princess Margary’s dedication to the museum is most commendable, isn’t it?”

“…Moon has apparently been taking out rivals.”

Celine drowned out the rest and focused in on the three knights talking on their patrol.

“I heard from my brother in Morgan that 16 men were found dead on the streets the other week.”

“Really?! Who were they?”

“Low level thugs and thieves, he said, but they’d been trying to form some new gang from what he said.”

“And the Black Moon decided to wipe them out immediately?”

“That’s the thing. My brother said one of the thugs was actually a member of the Black Moon!”

“Seriously?! So, Lady Sherwyn was purging the traitor or-?”

“I’m not sure, but my brother seems convinced he knew too much about something or other.”

Celine made a mental note of their conversation, refocused and perceived the world again.

“…new dress and-”

“Roses! He gave me-!”

“…swords are so expensive these days, aren’t they? I mean, I-”

“You ever heard of this boo-?”

“…all diverted into the Anjou Duchy.”

Anjou?

“All of it?”

“Yep. Stone, mortar, timber, the lot.”

“That must’ve been expensive for the duke to move all that stuff 60 miles odd north, no?”

“Oh, no doubt about it. I think it’s actually closer to 70 miles and it took months to move everything into the Chister Barony and now he’s moving it all north near Risenwelt.”

“The Reich capital? Why would we need a fort at that border of all things?”

“I dunno, but I do know the duke is paying handsomely for people who can help him move it.”

“Hmm, maybe I’ll go and offer my services. I mean, what’s a few tonnes of building materials, eh?”

The men at the pub joked before going back to the bar for another drink.

Simply by walking with her hearing enhanced, Celine was about to hear and understand everything and anything within 100 metres of her, although it did give her headaches when she was done.

Celine’s senses were superhuman, but so was her control over them.

She could turn them on and off, enhance or reduce their power, and she could blur out all, but what she wanted to focus on.

It allowed her to read in peace when Daya might otherwise bother her.

It helped her stay hidden in cities and evade hunters.

And it gave her even greater control of her magic.

When her few contacts she relied on couldn’t come through, Celine used this intensive method to quickly find and filter through information.

“My mother just came back from a visit to Tetrad.”

“How was it?”

“She loved it but said some of the locals and the Mounsan tourists weren’t kind to her.”

“Oh, that’s a shame. What sort of things did they do?”

“Just minor things. They’d ignore her if she tried to speak to her, look away if they walked past her or just pretend she didn’t exist.”

“Oh my, that’s awful.”

“Yes, she said she saw some people getting beaten by people from Mounsan.”

“Disgraceful!”

“That’s what I said, but she said it was only a handful of them, not the entire country and so she wouldn’t let it bother her. After all, she quite likes Mounsan.”

“…Well, as long as she wasn’t hurt, that’s the main thing. God forbid something happened to her like poor Lady Flora.”

“Oh, the poor thing. I can’t believe she would weep tears for her abuser, that wretched Abigail Anjou!”

“That’s just how kind Lady Flora is. We should aim to be like her.”

…Flora weeps for Estelle? Celine frowned. When Estelle told me the story, I did think it suspicious but now I’m convinced there was more to this than a lover’s despite or a simple power grab.

Flora Dumond’s behaviour before and after Abigail’s ‘death’ is suspicious…what are you up to Sherwyn?

A dead former member of the Black Moon.

Supplies being moved close to Risenwelt, a city remarkably close to the borders of La Fay, Du Lan and Tetrad.

Flora Dumond’s behaviour.

The Anjou Duchy.

Celine had the pieces, but not the link connecting them together.

To do so, she needed to understand who Abigail Anjou was before she met her and who Flora Dumond was.

Stories about Flora were easy enough to come by at the library and on the street.

However, the National Library’s records barely had any mentions of the Dumond name until the time Flora’s abuse began to start.

The newspapers of La Fay still talked about her, singing the praises of the Dumond family, especially her parents. Her mother and father had been instrumental in new research and development projects alongside Sherwyn Afton. Their most recent creation was a patent on the iconic tinted glass La Fay so loved to use for perfume and potion bottles.

Before then, her family name is all but a footnote. Celine flicked through the pages of Notable Nobles, a name the librarians had dubbed the book. They are from the western part of La Fay where there are more researchers, but the Dumond family never had a major role to play in any sort of invention, theoretical paper or discovery…and now they’re assisting the Moon of La Fay in her work?

The papers were very flattering to Flora herself, talking about the upcoming union between her and Peter Chister, Abigail’s former partner, although Celine had heard Flora’s health had worsened in recent months.

She weeps for the woman who abused her…Abigail never touched her, so the only reasons she would have to cry are because: she hates her partner, she hates her new life, or she hates what happened to Estelle.

“It might be worth asking her directly, risks be damned.”

The page on the Anjou Duchy had been re-written with ink stains left behind to blot out Abigail as if she never existed.

Lines had been crossed out or scribbled over, and multiple drafts had been entered and revised, making the book a messy read. But Celine could still read them by enhancing her eyes.

The cruel language she glimpsed at told her not to bother.

How could you say those things about your own child?

It had rekindled a feeling inside Celine’s chest she had thought long gone, a painful reminder that it would never truly go away.

Abigail Anjou - a cruel villainess who had been overwhelmed by unfounded jealously and lashed out at Flora Dumond, the woman she believed to be responsible for her emotional instability. Tried and found guilty of multiple crimes, the former duchy heiress was exiled from the city. The Anjou family believes her deceased, though no body has been found.

“With the most popular theory being she was eaten by wolves.”

Celine’s grip on the book tightened and she nearly split it in two.

No details about the trial other than Abigail was guilty - that should never happen in a country as proud of its honour as La Fay.

Sherwyn probably had a hand in this.

If so, that would mean she needed the relationship between Peter and Abigail destroyed, but why?

Celine turned to the Chister page and saw a scribbled-out entry.

To celebrate their happy union, a new fortress is to be constructed in the Chister Barony close to the Mounsan border which they believe will open new trade passages with our southern neighbours. Men from the duchy and barony will work together on its construction and defence, providing greater stability for the region.

“…That’s what it is,” she mumbled. “Sherwyn needed the fortress built somewhere else and that was the perfect way to do it.”

From what I could gleam, the duke invested a lot of time and resources into the project and now is moving it closer to Risenwelt, meaning Sherwyn wanted it moved somewhere else. I’d like to pretend she wants to help the Reich, but. Celine narrowed her eyes. That’s not it.

She’s looking at Tetrad.

Risenwelt is within 12 miles of the city-state and a fortress built near either the Reich or Tetrad would be advantageous for trade or war. The tensions rising in Tetrad might also be the foundation for an invasion or occupation of the city…which is why Sherwyn needed Abigail gone, so the duke would do what she wanted him to.

Not through direct words, of course, but he’d move on her board all the same.

The judge could easily have been coerced or paid into giving Sherwyn the result she wanted, and then the rest would be history. As a reward for their help, the Dumond’s, Flora included, would gain prestige and a valuable marriage partner in Peter Chister, and they’re even working alongside a Moon.

Quite a lot of rewards for their efforts.

The dead Black Moon. He could be unrelated or maybe he figured out the truth and was trying to warn someone about Sherwyn’s true plan.

“That would explain everything, except for one key thing.” Celine shut the book. “Why is Sherwyn doing this?”

Sherwyn Afton, Celine thought, was just like Geoffrey Luther, a schemer who preferred control through political movements and lobbying, someone who would do anything except wage war to get what they wanted.

The Black Moon was everywhere, as were Geoffrey’s agents and informants, so it wouldn’t be difficult for them, but building a fortress so close to an already over-crowded border was strange.

“It says they’re officially building it to boost their trade, but La Fay trades plenty with the Reich already and Tetrad has connections with La Fay. What would building a fortress do other than alarm them?”

Celine sighed and put the book down. It might just be a needless worry, but if Sherwyn’s behind everything I’ve seen these last few months, then she might be getting ready to try something big and soon.

“I hope it’s nothing more than a needless worry, but.” Celine’s body began to glow. “If you try anything, I’ll stop you.”

***

“Is this everything?”

“Yes, Lady Sherwyn,” reported the Anjou’s head butler. “Plans to retrieve all of the remaining materials from the Chister Barony have been arranged and a complete manifesto of the remaining items required have been dispatched to the guilds.”

“Good. Leave it on the table.”

The butler bowed forwards, though he knew Sherwyn was in the shadows behind him, and left.

Sherwyn scooped up the manifesto and smiled widely. “That’s the last thing I needed.”

The fort will be constructed and fully manned within 3 months. It has everything it needs to be built and the labour to get it done quickly and to my standards. Supply lines have been set up with local caravan groups and the duke’s own connections, and the first group of soldiers will arrive to defend the site tomorrow night.

“That reminds me.” Sherwyn fell into her own shadow and appeared inside Duke Anjou’s.

The duke was, at that moment, in a meeting with the lords living in his duchy, discussing various topics and projects like they did for 1 week every 3 months.

Normally, Sherwyn wouldn’t bother attending such meetings, even for those she was allied with.

However.

“Brigands gathering in the south of the Reich?”

The duke grunted in response. “My spies tell me that merchant caravans are easy targets, especially if they come from La Fay, given how generous we’ve been with the Reich in the past.”

“So, they savage our efforts to aid their countrymen?! Disgraceful!”

“…Indeed.” The duke put his elbows on the table. “It’s unclear how great the damage is, but some of the smaller companies who were looking to start trading from our duchy have been hit hard. These are unspeakable atrocities,”

“That’s why you wanted to move the fortress close to Risenwelt?”

“Yes. With the fort there, we would be able to more closely guard our countrymen and ensure safe passage for goods and people into the north.”

“But, my lord, isn’t the fortress too close to the border? I fear the Reich and Tetrad will not take kindly to our presence.”

“They will learn to appreciate it when we aid them both against the local scum, I assure you.”

“…As you say, my lord.”

“I for one support it, Duke Anjou! What can I do to help?”

“I appreciate your support, Burnside. The documents you have reviewed are a petition that I intend to take with me tomorrow to the palace for King Edward to make official. With his seal of approval, the emperor will no doubt be okay with the fort’s construction and Tetrad will lose its ability to resist our efforts. New roads and supply lines must also be built as soon as possible.

“With the help of you gathered here today, we shall be able to get the fortress ready within a few months if not less.”

“What about the supplies and logistical issues, my lord?”

“The raw materials have already been found, including the ones we’ve taken back from the barony,” Duke Anjou said. “As for the supplies, I’m handling the wages and provisions personally from my own reserves.”

“Should we not contribute as well, my lord?”

“Unnecessary. A single fortress won’t run the coppers dry in my estate. Any further questions?” When no one spoke up, he asked, “Are we all in agreement then?”

His stern gaze slowly circling the table, looking each of his lords in the eye one by one.

Each nodded, some more timidly than others, but the agreement was passed without any resistance.

“Good. Then, the motion has passed.” The duke stamped and sealed the documents he was holding. “I shall take these to the palace tomorrow morning. The meeting is adjourned. Go.”

They bowed, paid their respects and promptly left.

No doubt someone will figure out the true purpose of the fort, but that’s fine, Sherwyn thought. With this, everything has fallen into place, all I need to do now is be patient and wait for the right moment to act.

And make sure the Moons don’t get in the way.

Sigmund’s still in the frontier.

Ashlynn’s busy trying to calm down the violent storms raging the western coast of Itazmna.

The Heaven’s Hammer is stuck to the emperor’s hip.

Geoffrey’s looking to use Tetrad too, so it’s inevitable that we’ll clash.

Sherwyn left the duke’s side and clicked her tongue, slamming the side of her fist into a nearby wall, leaving a large crater in it. “Don’t you dare get in my way again, Witch!”

***

“Inconsistent invoices, abrupt changes in the political and economic situation inside La Fay and the failures of my smuggling operations,” Geoffrey Luther mused, relaxing more into his chair as documents floated around him. “Everything has still been within my calculations, though it’s quite annoying to see how dedicated to this plot Sherwyn is.

“Given her character, it’s likely she’s put as much sweat and blood into this plan as I have into mine, so the real issue comes down to whether or not any external factors we’ve yet to factor in come into play.”

The Witch of the Crescent Moon.

Geoffrey Luther prided himself on his vast wealth of knowledge and connections, and his ability to accurately predict everything that would happen.

Since his plan to take Tetrad had been conceived, he had been proven right about how Sherwyn would act.

The severance of the barony and duchy.

The troops being moved under the guise of protecting civilians.

Disruptions inside Tetrad to sour relations between Mounsan and the locals.

All to justify her takeover of the city.

He had read her every move and calculated how to perfectly counter them.

But the failures Geoffrey had endured were all caused by the Witch.

The smugglers were meant to be discovered, but only after Geoffrey had framed Du Lan completely and totally.

Abigail Anjou was meant to die, her body discovered by a passing patrol. Flora Dumond would be so overcome with the despair of what she’d done she’d confess Sherwyn’s scheme to the world, and La Fay would be dishonoured.

Without a body, there was hope in Flora’s hope the Anjou girl was alive.

No horrific wounds, no additional guilt to grip her heart.

Tetrad would commit a revolution against their own council on Geoffrey’s order, replacing one puppet court with another.

I’ve recalculated for your appearance, Crescent Moon, but I don’t have enough knowledge about her to make 100% accurate predictions. Geoffrey twirled his ink pen around in his hand as he thought. She’s benevolent, but unpredictably so. She’ll kill without hesitation but avoids others.

The Moons, by our nature, love to bask in the light of others, but you hide away from it.

“A half-moon…crescent moon suits you well, our dear Witch,” Geoffrey mused. He rang a bell and a butler came in. “Tell his majesty I’m taking some time off.”

“Where are you going, my lord?”

Geoffrey Luther smiled. “Tetrad.”